New Record For Miles Driven Electrically In 24 Hours: Renault Zoe

Despite not coming to market for another couple months didn’t stop Renault’s hotly anticipated new mini EV from still setting a world record, namely the most distance traveled in a 24 hour period.

Averaging an incredible 66 km/hr (41 miles), or 1590 km (994 miles), the car obliterated the old record of 1241 km (776 miles) on a course in in Aubevoye, Normandie, France.

Zoe Interior In Optional Black

The Renault Zoe is the first and only electric vehicle to feature Chameleon charging, a system that allows variable charging rates compatible to the maximum output of the charging station/plug it is receiving a fill from, up to 43 kWh. Still, with a full charge taking a little less than half an hour, we are not quite sure how the record was set.

The Zoe goes on sale in the fall of 2012, and in the UK costs £13,650 (£4,333 subsidy deducted), while in France the car costs €15,700 (after €5,000 rebate). Update: Batteries are leased seperately on 36 month terms from €79/month.

The car can achieve 210 km on the NEDC cycle, which would loosely translate to about 93 miles on our EPA system in the US. Under perfect conditions range is expanded with the rang “Range OptimiZEr” (note ZE in name), that features a new generation of regenerative braking, a heat pump and Michelin EnergyTM E-V tyres.